Rotary engine.



. PATENTBD DEC. 10, 1907. "v. PINGRET.

ROTARY ENGINE.' APPLIGATION FILED APR. 25, 1904. RENEWED JUNE 5, 1906.

v 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

51 11 be m Witnemwo V. PINGRET.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLIOATIQN FILED APR.25, 1904. RENEWED JUNE 5, 1906.

PA TENTBD DEG. 10, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A fiuvenfoz i/vi iineaom fiwx v "zxmgm-A PATENTE D DEC. 10; 1907f v.PINGRET.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1904 RENEWED JUNE 5, 1906.

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UNITED-STATES PATEN -VIOTOR PINGRET, OF RIOGRANDE DO SUL, BRAZIL,ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

THE PINGRET TURBO PISTON ENGINE/00., OF ESOANABA, MICHIGAN, ACORPORATION- W OF M IOHIGAN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1907.

Application filed April 25. 1904. Serial No. 204.849. Renewed June 1966-Serial No. 320.305.

I To all whom it may concern: a

, tr1c plston carrier and taken centrally Be it'known, that I, Vro'roRPINGRET, a citizen of the Republic of Brazil, and a resident of RioGrande do Sul, in the Stateof RioGrande do Sul, Brazil, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of thesame,rcference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthe same, and to the figures and letters of sponding to the constructionof the pistonof reference markedthereon.

This invention relates to improvements in rotary engines and moreparticularly to that type of rotary eng' e embodying a concenistons witha movable abutment for closlng the cylinder behindeach piston after thelatter has passed the abutment. i p

' The objects of the invention are to provide a highly efiicient engineof simple design in which the working parts will be subject toa minimumwear and the necessity for employ- 1n gackings throughout an extendedarea W1 1 e obviated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an engine of the rotarytype which may be energized by an elastic fluid under pressure, saidfluid being put under pressure either externally to the engine or Withinthe engine itself, in other words, the engine may be run as a steamengine or as an internal combustion engine.

The invention consists in certain novel details of construction andcombinations and arrangements of parts all as, will be now described andpointed out particularly in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is an elevation of arotary engine embodying the present improvements. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection in a plane at right angles to the'drive shaft and takencentrally of the cylinder. Fig. 3'is a horizontal section of the enginewith portions in elevation. Fig. 4 is a. sectional view through therotary abutment in substantially the plane of the section in Fig. Fig.-5-is a section on the line 5-5, of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a section on theline 6-6, of Fi 2.

Like letters of reference in tie several figures indicate the sameparts.

The casing or cylinder of the engine adopt ed for illustrating thepresent-improvements,-

arranged bolts d.

adjacent to said carrier on each side.

is preferably formed into two sections lettered A in the accompanylngdrawings, in order to facilitate the formation of-the c0n-.

' thereupon a rotary carrier or piston C the latter 1n tum supportingthe pistons proper or movable abutments D. These movable abutments orpistons proper are preferably cylindrical in form, in this respectcorrean ordinary reciprocating engine. They are mounted betweenprojections d on a piston carrier O and held in position by centrallySaid pistons D maybe of any desired number, but, as shown, three areemployed, spaced equal angular distances apart, and each may embody inits construction ordinary split packing rings'd? for preventing leaka eor escape of fiuidpressure past the same 1n the working part of thecylnder. The working part of the cylinder,

which preferably corresponds to substantially the distance betweenadjacent pistons is made circular or cylindrical in cross-section andof'a size for the pistonsD to fit accurately therein. 5

point (facki ngs shown in detail in Fig 5 are provi ed for bearingagainst each side of the carrier. These packings are preferably mountedin chambers or recesses 1n the sec-" tions A of the cylinder and eachconsists of a wear piece f which may be of soft metal and adapted tocontact with the carrier C and also with the-portion of the pistonD ly lilpjg s wear piece f may be mounted in a block f and held by a late f soas tobe adjustable with said bloc and plate, the adjustment beingeffected by set screws bearing against the block f preferably, however,through the medium of pressure springs f For (3011-- venience inlocating the packing, the cham-,

- The rim of the carrier O closes the'inner side of the Working portionof the cylin- .der and in order to prevent leakage at this ber thecylinder A may be made of suflicient size to admit the packing'from theinside and filling pieces f may be employed for closing said chamber orretaining the packing in place. 3 The portion of the cylinder thoughwhich the pistons D travel outside of the working area before describedand indicated, at A in Fig. 2, may be made of larger diameter in crosssection than said pistons, but in order to retain the acking rings (1 onthe pistons compressed, t e said enlarged ortion of the cglinder isreferably provide with ribs (1, t e inner e gesof said ribs formingachamber substantially coinciding in diameter with the diameter of theworking area of thecylinder. In order to prevent unequal wear of theacking rings the ribs are arranged s ira ly as shown clearly in saidFig. 2 and t eir working faces may be of sufficient area to give thedesired results, without creating any detrimental friction such as wouldma-. terially affect the power output of the engine. The abutment whichcloses the entrance end of the working area of the cylinder is a rotaryabutment and is the form of a tapering lug or" bod G which seats in acorrespon ing tapere chamber H of the sections A of the casing. Theobject of tapering the abutment and its chamber is to provide for takinup wear and to enable this adjustment'to be effected, the said abutmentmay be held in its. chamber by an adjustable retaining bearing in theform of an annulus H best seen in Fig. 3 of the drawing. 'The peripheryof the abutment G is adapted to make rolling contact with the edge ofthe carrierC- which contact will be sufiicient to maintain a steam tightjoint between the two without the creation of friction, and hence theperipheral surface of the carrier 0 3 is inclined to correspond to theinclination of the surface of the abutment and the diameter ofthe'abutment and carrier C are so proportioned that theabutment willmake one complete rotation during a movement of the car rier 'equal tothe distance between pistons.

mounted thereon. In the engine shown, the.

proportion is one to three.

' In the sidewall of the abutment a cavity or chamber 9 for thereception andpassage of the pistons is rovided, said chamber, however,may be 0- relatively large size inasmuch as the pistons are not intendedto fit accurately therein, the only contact between the pistonsandabutment being such as will be presently described for retaining thepacking rings compressed. The chamber g should, however, be of such sizeas to permit the abutment to close. the entrance end of the working areaof the cylinder immediately after the entrance of the piston into saidarea and where the engine is de signed for running as an internalcombustion engine, the said chamber 9 ma serve. not

only as the admission chamber or the combustible but it ma carry theigniting mechanism therefor. he chamber 9 should be so proportioned thatthe effect of pressure in the same does not tend to rotate the abutmentin either direction, and the igniting mechanism is preferably located ina curved cavity or rethrough the pass cess at the bottom of the chamber9. As shown, high resistance points, suchas a series of sections ofplatinum wire it, are mounted in the base of the chamber and connectedin seriesin an electric circuit which may be established through contactrings hv on the] stem of the abutment. (See Fi 4.) An exhaust o eningsuch as indicate at I may be rovided at a convenient point in the enlare area of the cylinder, it being preferre the working area.

to locate the same near the exit end of In the preferred construction,the abutment is rotated ositively by gear wheels K and K on the riveshaft B and abutment stem or shaft as will be seen in Fig. 1, and.

where the engine is designed for running as a steam engine steam may beadmitted from any suitable source of sup ly connected with a pipe L andadmitted t rough a valve L controlled by a valve mechanism embodyin anoperating lever L and a cam or series 0 cam-like projections L carriedby the drive shaft, said projections L cooperating with the lever L toopen the valve and admit steam to the working area immediately after.

the abutment has closed the entrance end of said working areabehind eachiston; Obviously, the projections L may e so proportioned as to cut oilthe steam at any desired point permitting said steam to act expansivelythroughout a greater or less roportion of the working area of the cylinrer.

Instead of being operated as a steam engine the engine may be operatedas an internal combustion engine 1n which nstance the explosive may beadmitted directly into the chamber g through a passage M (Fig. 2) having a cut-off m therein for closin said passage after the explosive hasbeen elivered into the chamber 9. It will be noted from said Fig. 2 thatthe chamber g .does not open communication with the passage M until thepiston has passed into the working area of the cylinder and the abutmenthas closed the entrance end of said area and consequently the explosivemay be ignited immediately upon its entrance into the chamber Theconstruction is such that it permits 0 the use of an explosive of asolid or semi-solid nature, for instance, a strip N of gun cotton. Thisstrip N is fed over a roller N down e M and is adapted to be severed soas to rop the proper-length or quantity into the chamber 9, by thecut-off m and its cooperating cutting member or jaw m.

To re ulate the feed of the strip of explosivea feedin and controllingmechanism may be emp 0 ed, and for illustration, a-

pair of feed rol s O and O are shown in the drawin' s, both of saidrolls being rubber covered and one i of them being provided with agripping projection 0 which will grip the strip of explosive and advancethe same asses into the'channel M at the propertime for being severed bythe cutter m. A driving,

mechanism for the roller and cutter m may consists of a chain andsprocket drive P, on the'one hand, and a gear wheel drive- P on theother. The gear wheel driveP preferably cooperates with the abutment,

while the sprocket wheel and chain drive 00- operates with the driveshaft and is propor tioned to feed the explosive at the proper I timewith relation to the piston movement and opening of the channel M andchamber 9. To regulate the feed proportional to the speed of the'enginea centrifugal governor Q driven from the engine shaft by any propergearing may be provided for moving the feed roller 0 to a greater orless extent out of the path of the projection 0 on the feed roller 0.The movement of the feed roller 0 is preferably a diagonal movementwithrespect to the plane of feed and toward the direction of feed. As aconsequence, a slight movement of the feed roll' Ounder the ,infiuenceof the governor will reduce thelength of material fed and as themovement of the rollerincreases the length of material fed willconstantly decrease until it. is stopped altogether and will notcommence again until the speed ofv the engine is reduced.

- To retain thepacking rings 61 compressed during the passage of thepistons through the chamber 9 of the abutment, said chamber g isprovided with spring pressed ribs g, the -.proximate faces of which-willcontact with the said packing rings before said rings have moved out ofenga ementwith the ends of the ribs (1 and wil remain in engagement'with' said rings until the latter have par tially entered the reducedworking area of the'cylinder and consequently at no time are the packingrings unrestrained or free to ex.- pand and cause wear or breakage byengagingnor. striking other portions of the cylinder wa i i Inoperation, the expansive fluid becomes effective in the operativeportion of the cyl- ,inder and behind the piston at about the-instantthe piston leaves the chamber in the abutment and continues its actionon the piston until the latter passes through the operative portion ofthe cylinder when the .fluid is free to pass out into the enlargedportion of the cylinder and thence to exhaust.

The effective operation is the same regardless of whether the engine isrun as an inter- 'nal combustion engine or as a steam engine and withthe mechanism shown, the engineis equipped for running with eithersource of power although it will be understood that either may beomitted if so desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a rotary en ine, the combination with the concentric cylinderhaving a reduced Working area, a rotary carrier having pistons fittingsaid working area and ofless diameter than the remaining portion of thecylinder and a rotary abutment adapted to contact withthepiston carrierand having a chamber for the passage therethrough of the. pis tonsmounted .onthe carrier; substantially as described. I

2. In a rotary engine, the combination with the cylinder, the pistoncarrier mounted concentrically therein, and having a concentric taperingperiphery, pistons mounted onsaidcarrien and admission and exhaust portsin the cylinder, of a rotary abutment having a tapering peripheralsurface adapt ed to contact-with the periphery of the car-- rier, 'achamber insaid abutment for the pas- I sage therethrough of the pistonsonthe carrier, gearing connecting said abutment and carrier andimparting a coextensive peripheral movement to the contacting surfaceswhereby friction between the "contacting surfaces of the carrier'andabutment is prevented; and means for adjusting the piston carrier andabutment longitudinally with relation to each other to take up wear, sub

stantially as described.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination with thecylinder having anannular piston chamber the working area of. which is sub-" stantiallycylindrical in cross-section and of less diameter than the remainder; ofthe chamber, a carrier mounted concentrically in saidcylinder,-cylindrical istons mounted on said carrier and fitting t eworking area of the cpiston-chamber, .a rotary abutment adapts tocontactperipherally with the carrier and having a chamber therein forthe passage of the pistons on the carrier, gearmg interposed betweensaid carrier and abutment for imparting uniform peripheral movementthereto whereby friction between their contacting faces is prevented andpackings inthe cylinder walls concentric with the described.

5'. In a rotary engine, the. combination with'the cylinder, the pistoncarrier mounted I concentrically therein and having a ta ered periphery,and pistons on said carrier, 0 a rotary abutme uflhavin a tapered perihery adapted to make r01 ing contact wit I the peripliiery of thecarrier, a tapered chamber in w ch said abutment Works and means for.

m piston chamberthroughout'the working area adjusting said abutmentlongitudinally of its axis in said chamber to compensate for wear;

', .scribed.

fsectio'n and .an intermediate area of said carrier and 1 j cylinder,pistons on said' carrier having 35 substantially as described.

6. with the cylinder having an annularpiston chamber with a reducedworking area and van enlarged area with ribs in said enlarged area, of apiston carrier mountedconcentrically in said cylinder, pistons rier andcooperating with the walls of the and with said ribs throughout the idleportion of theirmovement; substantially as de- 7. In a rotary engine,the combination' [with the cylinder having an annular iston chamber witha working area of reduce cross larger cross section and spiral'ribs insaid larger area, of apiston carrier-mounted concentricallyin saidcylinder, and pistons on said carrier cooperating with the wall of thepis-i tonchamber throughout the workingv area and with maining passageof saidpistons and means for holding,

the packin rings compressed during the passa e of t e pistons throughthe abutment cham er; substantially as described.

,7 #9, In a: rotary engine, the combinationwith the cylinder having'anannular iston chamber with itsworking area of en stantiallyjc'ircularcross section and spiral ribs between the ends of said working area,of-a pistoncarrier mou the cylinder, circular pistons mounted on havingexpansible packing In a rotary'engine, the combination mounted on saidcartherein for the passage of the having side of its tons and-adaptedted concentrically within rifigs thereon adapted; to be confined by then s area, a rotary abutment having for the a chamber passage of saidpistons and ribs in said chamber for confining the packing rings duringthe passage-of the abutment chamber; su scribed. I a s 10. vIn a; rotaryinternal combustion engine, the combination with the cylinder,concentriciston carrier, and pistons mounted on the naled in ist'onsthrough the the casing and having a chamber pistons through the abutmentand constituting the inlet for the explosive, anelectric igniter for theexplosive rotary abutment and connections for establishing a circuitthrough the igniter; sub-. stantially as described.

11. Ina rotary engine the combination with the rotary a narrowperiphery, cylindrical pistons of greater diameter than the width of theperiphery mounted on said carrier outperiphery and a cylinder having'aconcentric of a rotary abutment 1n: tersecting the istonchamber, andhaving a chamber therein for the passage of the pis-- to contact withthe cry of the .piston carrier, tween the carrier and abutment to impartuniform surface speed to the said contacting" surfaces; substantially asdescribed.

a ,rotary engine, the combination 85,

with the cylinder, rotating pistons and abut ment havlng a chamber forpermitting the feeder for explosive material embodying feed rolls and apassage of said pistons, of-a governing mechanism controlling the opera-90 the explosive ma-- tion'of said feed rolls on .terials; substantiallyas described; Y

. VICTOR PINGRET.

Witnesses:

' ALEXANDER'S. STEUART.

oMns. DURANT.

when the piston is outside of the working 5 0 stantially as (ice atter,of'the rotary abutment jour-- charge located in the chamber in theconcentric piston carrier piston chamber for the pistons and engagingthe sides of the carrieradjacent its periphery,

peri'h-.80 and gearing e-

